The biggest test of the season awaits Vermont Green FC on Tuesday night as perennial contenders and fierce rivals Western Mass Pioneers visit Virtue Field for the first time in 2025. The Vermonters and the Pioneers both enter the match unbeaten, with first place in the Northeast Division up for grabs at the league’s halfway point.
HISTORY
Vermont Green FC and Western Mass Pioneers have six meetings in the history of their young rivalry with the Massachusetts club enjoying a 3W-2L-1T advantage over the Green. Despite the record, the scorelines have always indicated a proper rivalry, with only last year’s season finale win for Vermont at Lusitano ending in a multi-goal margin. Three of the six matchups have ended 1-0.
In 2022, the Green bested the Pioneers at home in the final game of the season when Diba Nwegbo famously scored from an impossible angle on the wing, clinching a playoff spot in the club’s inaugural season. In 2023, Western Mass Pioneers claimed two 1-0 victories over the Green, two of Vermont’s three losses that season.
The last meeting between Vermont and Western Mass was the 2024 regular season finale which saw the Green needing a result to qualify for playoffs. Gerardo Castillo, Mohammed Ibrahim’s winner, and Jacob Labovitz’s insurance goal completed a 3-1 comeback win in Ludlow, MA.
WESTERN MASS PIONEERS IN FOCUS
Western Mass Pioneers were founded in 1997 in Ludlow, MA, but the club is the spiritual successor of a soccer community that has existed at the iconic Lusitano Stadium since 1918. The club has had stints in both professional and semi-professional leagues, notably winning the 1999 D3 Professional National Championship.
Nestled into Ludlow’s historic Portuguese neighborhood, the club has a rich soccer history, and regularly boasts a pedigree that rivals the best in the nation.
The Pioneers are coached by Federico Molinari, an established and respected coach at the USL League Two level and beyond, and a veteran of the club’s professional era. The Argentine manager has become known for his particular brand of direct, fast-paced, direct attacking football and that has yielded results year in, year out.
Western Mass Pioneers are unbeaten in 2025, boasting 5 wins and 2 draws for 17 points. They also boast a goal differential of +22, significantly leading Vermont’s +13, a stat that could factor heavily if the two sides remain neck-and-neck.
AJAGBE HEATS UP
After a week of rest, the longest period without a game thus far in 2025, Chris Taylor has a refreshed roster raring to go on Tuesday. One player that the gaffer may choose to bring back into the fold is former Ohio State Buckeye and recently-committed Portland Pilots star forward David Ajagbe. Ajagbe already made his mark in an early season blockbuster, scoring against defending national champions Seacoast United in just the 6th minute at Virtue Field on May 31st.
In early June, Ajagbe honored a commitment to compete with Drip FC in this year’s TST—where he continued his knack for the limelight—but has since returned to Vermont looking to break back into the Starting XI. If Chris Taylor should select him on Tuesday, the Irish-Canadian forward could be a difference maker.
STREAM THE MATCH
Vermont Green FC will stream the match live with commentary at vermontgreenfc.com/streaming.
ON THE CONCOURSE
Church Street Cheesesteaks, Ahli Baba Kabob Shop, and Jilib Jiblets will be serving on the concourse. Ben & Jerry’s will be scooping FREE ICE CREAM! Arrive early to enjoy the concourse full of food vendors, tabling partners, and more!